Greetings Church,
One of the most important things we can understand when it comes to wisdom is our own hearts.
Questions for Small Groups:
To start your group, have everyone share one way they have seen God at work in their life this week.
Read Proverbs 4:10-27.
I. Character Development.
1. In Proverbs 4:10-19 the author describes a path of wisdom and a path of wickedness. How is the path of wickedness described?
2. In verse 16 the wicked are described as trying to make others stumble. Can you think of some real life examples in your own life of this path toward darkness? Are there people you would like to see fail or that you would like to get even with etc.
3. In verse 19 we see that the wicked path is a deep darkness. They don’t know what makes them stumble (out of touch with reality). This will be hard- but can you see each other’s blind spots? Can you see something that is causing your brother or sister in Christ to stumble that maybe they cannot see?
II. Guarding the Heart.
4. Re-read Proverbs 4:23. Why do we need to guard our hearts?
*Note: The heart is the center of being, the desires, the imaginations.
5. We said in the sermon that “we choose what we believe is most satisfying.” Do you agree with this? Have you seen this to be true in your own life?
6. Why is it that only God can satisfy our hearts? Why does pursuing good things like image, romance, children, work at the center of our hearts only lead to disappointment?
*Hint: God is perfect. Those others things are not.
III. The Transformation of the Heart.
7. Why does “Trying harder” or morality not transform the heart? What does “trying harder” lead to?
8. Why/How is it that only grace can change a heart and lead to character/morality.
9. Truth alone cannot change a heart. It takes a new reality and a new vision. The new reality is that in Christ you are changed! The new vision is one of hope and joy in the presence of Christ.
How can these two things (new reality and new vision) bring about change in your heart and thus your choices and character?
Where in your life do you need to trust your new reality and gain a new vision for the future?
